5.190 - Teacher Qualifications

A teacher, as the term is used in this policy, refers to a District employee who is required to be certified under State law. The following qualifications apply:

Each teacher must:

A) Have a valid Illinois certificate that legally qualifies the teacher for the duties for which the teacher is employed.

B) Provide the District office with proof of certification application by the end of the first week of school, each school year.

C) Provide the District office with a complete transcript of credits earned in institutions of higher education and, annually by July 1, provide the District office with a transcript of any credits earned since the date the last transcript was filed.

D) Notify the Superintendent of any change in the teacher’s transcript.

E) The following teachers must be “highly qualified” as defined by State and federal law: (a) newly hired teachers who will work in a program supported with Title I funds, and (b) by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, all teachers of core academic subjects. Teachers are generally considered to be highly qualified if they: (a) have a bachelor’s degree; (b) have full State certification according to criteria adopted by the authorized State agency; and (c) have demonstrated subject-matter competence in the area(s) taught according to criteria adopted by authorized State agency. “Core academic subjects” mean English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.

The Superintendent or designee shall:

Develop and implement a plan to ensure that all teachers who teach core academic subjects are “highly qualified,” as defined in this policy, not later than the end of the 2005-2006 school year;

Through incentives for voluntary transfers, professional development, recruiting programs, or other effective strategies, ensure that minority students and students from low-income families are not taught at higher rates than other students by unqualified, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers; and

Ensure parents/guardians of students in schools receiving Title I money are notified: (a) of their right to request their students’ classroom teachers’ professional qualifications, and (b) whenever their child is assigned to, or has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who is not highly qualified.